Powderous formulations of organic acids or esters having an aromatic ring system

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to improved powderous formulations of organic acids or esters having an aromatic ring system, as well as to the production of such formulations.

This application is the U.S. national phase of International Application No. PCT/EP2013/052281, filed 6 Feb. 2013, which designated the U.S. and claims priority EP Application No. 12154195.7, filed on 7 Feb. 2012, the entire contents of each which are hereby incorporated by reference.

The present invention relates to improved powderous formulations as well as to the production of such formulations.

Powderous formulations of organic acids or esters having an aromatic ring system are very common and useful formulations.

Examples of such organic acids or esters are niacin and benzoic acid.

Niacin (also known as vitamin B3, nicotinic acid and vitamin PP) is an essential human nutrient.

A lack of niacin in the diet can cause the disease pellagra, which is characterized by diarrhea, dermatitis, and dementia, as well as “necklace” lesions on the lower neck, hyperpigmentation, thickening of the skin, inflammation of the mouth and tongue, digestive disturbances, amnesia, delirium, and eventually death, if left untreated. A lack of niacin can also cause psychiatric symptoms such as irritability, poor concentration, anxiety, fatigue, restlessness, apathy, and depression.

Benzoic acid and its salts are used as food preservative.

When these organic acids are used in powder form, these formulations do unfortunately have a tendency to explode.

Even when the powder has a prominent amount of larger particles, there is always a certain amount of small particles present. These small particles are responsible for the explosion risk.

Dust explosions are a huge risk in any processes wherein powders are used. Therefore there is a need for powderous formulations with low explosion hazard. But nevertheless the powderous formulations must still have the essential (and advantageous) features of a powder, such as free flowable, easy to transport, easy to dosage etc.

Surprisingly it was found that powderous formulations comprising at least one compound of formula (I)

wherein

-   X is —N— or —CH— and -   R₁ is H or a C₁-C₄ alkyl moiety, and -   comprising one or more specific compounds (auxiliary compound), and -   at least one carrier material -   do have a low risk of explosion.

Therefore the present application relates to powderous formulations (I) comprising

-   -   (i) 0.5 to 60 weight-% (wt-%), based on the total weight of the         powderous formulation, of at least one compound of formula (I)

-   -   -   wherein         -   X is —N— or —CH— and         -   R₁ is H or a C₁-C₄ alkyl moiety, and

    -   (ii) 0.5 50 wt-%, based on the total weight of the powderous         formulation, of at least one auxiliary compound selected from         the group consisting of aluminum ammonium sulphate, aluminum         potassium sulfate, ammonium acetate, ammonium bisulphite,         ammonium carbonate, ammonium chloride, ammonium dihydrogen         phosphate, ammonium hydrogen carbonate, bentonite,         montmorillonite, calcium aluminates, calcium carbonate, calcium         silicate, synthetic calcium sulphate dihydrate, calcium sulfate,         kaolinitic clays (such as Kaolin), diatomaceous earth, perlite,         potassium bisulphite, potassium hydrogen carbonate, potassium         sulphate, potassium carbonate, sepiolitic clays, silicic acid,         synthetic sodium aluminosilicate, sodium aluminosulfate, sodium         bisulphate, sodium carbonate, sodium chloride, sodium hydrogen         carbonate, sodium sulphate, vermiculite, calcium carbonate,         magnesium carbonate, calcareous marine algae, magnesium oxide,         magnesium sulphate, dicalcium phosphate, tri-calcium phosphate,         mono-dicalcium phosphate, defluorinated rock-phosphate,         monocalcium phosphate, calcium-magnesium phosphate,         mono-ammonium phosphate, magnesium phosphate,         sodium-calcium-magnesium phosphate, mono-sodium phosphate,         glycerol, propylene glycol (E 1520), glyceryl triacetate         (E1518), sorbitol (E420), polydextrose, lactic acid and urea,         and

    -   (iii) up to 40 wt-%, based on the total weight of the powderous         formulation, of a carrier material.

Preferably, R₁ in the definition of formula (I) is H, CH₃, CH₂CH₃, (CH₂)₂CH₃ and (CH₂)CH₃. More preferably R₁ is H or CH₃.

It is clear that the addition of all the wt-% always adds up to 100.

In the context of the present invention the specific compounds (ii) are also defined as auxiliary compounds.

Compounds of formula (Ia) and (Ib) are preferred

Preferably, the auxiliary compounds have an average particle size (d 0.5) (in the powder formulation) of 10 μm -100 μm.

Furthermore preferred are formulations (I′), which are formulations (I), wherein the auxiliary compound has an average particle size (d 0.5) of 10 μm-100 μm. The average particle sizes are measured by a Malvern Master Sizer 2000. During this laser diffraction measurement, particles are passed through a focused laser beam. These particles scatter light at an angle that is inversely proportional to their size. The angular intensity of the scattered light is then measured by a series of photosensitive detectors. The map of scattering intensity versus angle is the primary source of information used to calculate the particle size. For the measurement of dry materials such as the applied additives, a dry powder feeder (Malvern Scirocco) was used.

The explosion hazard of powders (dusts) is usually measured by a standardized method (EN 13821:2002 (Determination of minimum ignition energy of dust/air mixtures)). This is the method which is used for the determination of all MIE values in this patent application. This method allows to determining the minimum ignition energy (MIE) of a powder. The MIE is the minimum amount of energy required to ignite a combustible vapor, gas or dust cloud, for example due to an electrostatic discharge. MIE is measured in joules (J).

The average size of the powder particles for the measurement according to the procedure in EN 13821:2002 is 63 μm.

All the MIE values in this patent application are determined by using a modified Hartmann tube (type MIKE 3) available from Adolf Kühner AG (Birsfelden, CH).

This equipment is specially designed to allow the measurement of very low ignition energies. This is achieved by having different capacitors installed. The capacitors are designed to store the energy of 1 mJ, 3 mJ, 10 mJ, 30 mJ, 100 mJ, 300 mJ and 1000 mJ.

When measuring the MIE of commercially available powderous formulations comprising at least one compound of formula (I), they are usually in the range of 1-3 mJ. This means that a very low amount of energy is sufficient to initiate an explosion.

On the other hand, the formulations according to the present invention have MIE values in the range of 10-1000 mJ (or even more than 1000 mJ).

Therefore the present invention relates to formulations (II), which are formulations (I) or (I′) with MIE values of 10-1000 mJ (determined by the method of EN 13821:2002). It can be even higher than 1000 mJ.

The formulations according to the present invention are dry powders. But depending on the process of production as well as the storage conditions, the formulations can comprise some water. The water content is usually below 5 wt-%, based on the total weight of the formulation.

Therefore a further embodiment of the present invention relates to formulations (III), which are formulations (I), (I′) and (II), wherein 0 to 5 wt-%, based on the total weight of the formulation, of water is present.

Preferably the powderous formulations do not comprise other ingredients/compounds than as disclosed above. They do not contain any commonly used stabilisers, surface active ingredients or sugars.

The compounds of formula (I) can be from a natural source or they can be synthesised. Due to the nature of either the isolation process or the process of production, it is possible that traces of side products are present.

The carrier material used in the formulations according to the present invention are commonly known and used carrier material. A suitable carrier material is synthetically produced precipitated silica or formiate (such as calcium formiate). This carrier material consists of porous particles. Other suitable carrier materials are proteins, starches, lignosulfonates and gums.

Preferred formulations of the present invention are formulations (IV), wherein formulations (I), (I′), (II) and/or (III) comprise

-   -   (ii) 20-60 wt-%, based on the total weight of the formulation,         of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of         ammonium dihydrogen phosphate, (purified) diatomaceous earth,         potassium hydrogen carbonate, potassium sulphate, potassium         carbonate, sodium chloride and sodium hydrogen carbonate.

More preferred are formulations (IV'), which are formulations (IV) with MIE values of 10-1000 mJ (determined by the method of EN 13821:2002). It can be even higher than 1000 mJ.

Furthermore preferred are formulations (IV″), which are formulations (IV') wherein the auxiliary compound has an average particle size (d 0.5) of 10 μm- 100 μm.

Also preferred are formulations (V), which are formulations (I), (I′), (II), (III), (IV), (IV') and (IV″), which comprise

-   -   (iii) up to 40 wt-%, based on the total weight of the         formulation, of at least one carrier material chosen from the         group consisting of synthetically produced precipitated silica,         formiate (such as calcium formiate), proteins, starches,         lignosulfonates and gums.

An especially preferred embodiment of the present invention relates to formulations (V), consisting of

-   (i) 20-60 wt-%, based on the total weight of the powderous     formulation, of

-    and -   (ii) 25-50 wt-%, based on the total weight of the powderous     formulation, of at least one auxiliary compound selected from the     group consisting of ammonium dihydrogen phosphate, (purified)     diatomaceous earth, potassium hydrogen carbonate, potassium     sulphate, potassium carbonate, sodium chloride, sodium sulphate and     sodium hydrogen carbonate, -   (iii) up to 40 wt-%, based on the total weight of the powderous     formulation, of at least one carrier material chosen from the group     consisting of synthetically produced precipitated silica, formiate     (such as calcium formiate), proteins, starches, lignosulfonates and     gums, and -   (iv) 0 to 5 wt-%, based on the total weight of the powderous     formulation, of water.

To produce a powder according to the present invention (formulations (I), (I′), (II), (III), (IV), (IV′), (IV″) and (V)) it is possible that at least one compound of formula (I) is sprayed onto the carrier material and then at least one auxiliary compound is added and the formulation is blended.

It is also possible that at least one compound of formula (I) is sprayed onto a mixture of at least one carrier material and at least one auxiliary compound.

All the above disclosed formulations (I), (I′), (II), (III), (IV), (IV′), (IV″) and (V) can be used as such or in food products, feed products and personal care products.

All the above disclosed formulations (I), (I′), (II), (III), (IV), (IV′), (IV″) and (V) can be used as such in the production of food products, feed products and personal care products.

Furthermore the invention also relates to food products, feed products and personal care products comprising at least one formulations (I), (I′), (II), (III), (IV), (IV′), (IV″) and/or (V).

The invention is illustrated by the following Examples. All temperatures are given in ° C. and all parts and percentages are related to the weight.

EXAMPLES Example 1

900 g benzoic acid (purity 99.9%) was filled into an appropriate blender (Nauta) and 700 g sodium chloride having a particle size, analysed by laser diffraction, of 54 μm 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A powderous formulation comprising (i) 0.5 to 60 wt-%, based on the total weight of the powderous formulation, of at least one compound of formula (I)

wherein X is —N— or CH— and R1 is H or a C1-C4 alkyl moiety, and (ii) 0.5-50 wt-%, based on the total weight of the powderous formulation, of an auxiliary compound having an average particle size (d 0.5) in the powderous formulation of 10 μm to 100 μm, wherein the auxiliary compound is a least one selected from the group consisting of aluminum ammonium sulphate, aluminum potassium sulfate, ammonium acetate, ammonium bisulphite, ammonium carbonate, ammonium chloride, ammonium dihydrogen phosphate, ammonium hydrogen carbonate, bentonite, montmorillonite, calcium aluminates, calcium carbonate, calcium silicate, synthetic calcium sulphate dihydrate, calcium sulfate, kaolinitic clays, diatomaceous earth, perlite, potassium bisulphite, potassium hydrogen carbonate, potassium sulphate, potassium carbonate, sepiolitic clays, silicic acid, synthetic sodium aluminosilicate, sodium aluminosulfate, sodium bisulphate, sodium carbonate, sodium chloride, sodium hydrogen carbonate, sodium sulphate, vermiculite, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, calcareous marine algae, magnesium oxide, magnesium sulphate, dicalcium phosphate, tri-calcium phosphate, mono-dicalcium phosphate, defluorinated rock-phosphate, monocalcium phosphate, calcium-magnesium phosphate, mono-ammonium phosphate, magnesium phosphate, sodium-calcium-magnesium phosphate, mono-sodium phosphate, glycerol, propylene glycol, glyceryl triacetate , sorbitol, polydextrose, lactic acid and urea, and (iii) up to 40 wt-%, based on the total weight of the powderous formulation, of a carrier material (iv)the formulation having MIE values of 10-1000 mJ.
 2. The powderous formulation according to claim 1, wherein the compound of formula (I) is a compound of formula (Ia)


3. The powderous formulation according to claim 1, comprising 0 to 5 wt-%, based on the total weight of the formulation, of water.
 4. The powderous formulation according to claim 1, wherein the formulations comprise 20-50 wt-%, based on the total weight of the formulation, of the auxiliary compound, and wherein the auxiliary compound is at least one selected from the group consisting of ammonium dihydrogen phosphate, diatomaceous earth, potassium hydrogen carbonate, potassium sulphate, potassium carbonate, sodium chloride and sodium hydrogen carbonate.
 5. The powderous formulation according to claim 1, wherein the carrier material is at least one selected from the group consisting of synthetically produced precipitated silicas, formiates, proteins, starches, lignosulfonates and gums. 